The Texas Politics Oral History Program originated from the research and
teaching activities of Professor Chandler Davidson of the Sociology Department
at Rice University. In conjunction with his research on the liberal political
movement in Texas, he conducted a series of oral history interviews with
individuals associated with this movement, a project funded through a National
Endowment for the Humanities (N.E.H.) fellowship during the 1976-77 academic
year. He also assembled a file (“Texas Rich”) of notes and newspaper clippings
concerning ninety-nine individuals identified as “the richest Texas
inhabitants” during the 1970s and 1980s, which became the basis for his book,

Race and Class in Texas Politics, published
by the Princeton University Press in 1990. In addition, he maintained office
files consisting of oral histories, clippings, and related material also
connected with his interest in the liberal movement (now organized as the
Chandler Davidson Papers).
Scope and Contents

The physical bulk of the collection consists of the "Texas Rich" files
(Series II), which are clippings and notes compiled by Chandler Davidson on
individuals estimated to be the ninety-nine richest Texas inhabitants in the
1970s and 1980s.

The original collection of Texas Politics Oral History material was
received from Professor Chandler Davidson in 1976, with addenda received from
Prof. Davidson in 1985, 1991, 1992, 1995, and July 3, 2003.

Use Restrictions

Restrictions are those placed on oral histories by the person
interviewed (if any), noted in individual folders.

Permission to publish from the Texas Politics Oral History Program
collection must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center.

File of clippings and notes compiled by Chandler
Davidson on individuals estimated to be the 99 richest Texas inhabitants in the
1970s and 1980s. [For methodology used in selection of the 99, see Chandler
Davidson, Race and Class in Texas Politics (Princeton Univ. Press, 1990), pp.
287-88.